Shrimpsvoices

What ( ) thought about putting that crossing round the corner from Euston Road opposite Arndale.(accident waiting to happen).

It's temporary, whilst a revised junction is built incorporating traffic lights and, presumably, pelican crossings.

http://www.thevisitor.co.uk/morecambe-news/Death-trap-warning-at-new.5001054.jp

So while it is temporary no-one will get hurt, surely they could have moved it further along to make it safer.

It seems that its the council's policy to wait for a serious accident to happen and then
react to it rather than be proactive. Last year when a young girl was knocked down
crossing the A6 near Greaves Park local residents campaigned for a crossing of some sort
to be provided near the new play area there. The councils reply was that because there
had been no fatalities or serious injuries the expense could not be justified.

and it's like when they marked the lanes wrong on the asda roundabout it took them a while to realise what they had done, sometimes I do wonder about the people in the traffic planning department.

I still don't understand the two roundabout thing at Torrisholme Road/Scale Hall.Can someone please explain? There was nothing wrong with a right hand turn from Torr Rd into Scale Hall Lane.

Also what about when they planned to move the bus stop from one side of Carlisle bridge to the other for some unknown reason. They put the markings on the road and did some work on the pavement where the new bus stop was going to be but it never happened. The markings are still there but the bus stop never moved and it is still on the Morecambe side of the bridge.

seasonsinthesun wrote:I still don't understand the two roundabout thing at Torrisholme Road/Scale Hall.Can someone please explain? There was nothing wrong with a right hand turn from Torr Rd into Scale Hall Lane.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070338

Yes John L, I know how to use roundabouts, now stop being a smart arse and tell me why there are two at Scale Hall.

I wish there were a copy of that graphic when approaching the shrimp roundabout from Morecambe/Broadway end.

Sick to death of being cut up by stupid car drivers who think it's fun to try and push a wagon off the road onto the pavement

They take the right hand lane to go straight ahead, and don't look to their left when driving in a straight line across the roundabout

well, correct me if i'm wrong - but circa 1990 (when i passed my driving test) was it not the case that if you were intending to exit a roundabout - 1/2 way round or more, the inside lane was the correct one to use? - the illustration above seems to be at odds with that.
This could explain the misunderstandings at the Shrimp roundabout.

skyecat wrote:well, correct me if i'm wrong - but circa 1990 (when i passed my driving test) was it not the case that if you were intending to exit a roundabout - 1/2 way round or more, the inside lane was the correct one to use? - the illustration above seems to be at odds with that.
This could explain the misunderstandings at the Shrimp roundabout.

From online version of the highway code, and has always been the case.

Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said:

"The Official Highway Code is for life, not just for passing your driving test. It is a crucial tool for all road users - car drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians alike - and applies to every stage of your life. Road safety is a responsibility we all share and everyone should have a copy of the Code to keep their knowledge up-to-date.

Just saying like.

The problem is that Morecambe Road is the third exit from the Broadway entrance and is debatable as to whether it is more than half way around/straight on because it is set at an angle. "Straight on" is therefore Torrisholme. I've seen police cars doing it in both ways, inside and outside lanes, so if they don't know, how do the rest of us have a chance?

Keith wrote:The problem is that Morecambe Road is the third exit from the Broadway entrance and is debatable as to whether it is more than half way around/straight on because it is set at an angle. "Straight on" is therefore Torrisholme. I've seen police cars doing it in both ways, inside and outside lanes, so if they don't know, how do the rest of us have a chance?

I saw a police car driving the wrong way out of a car park, with a no exit sign.
It was summer, his window was open. I pointed out the sign, he said.

"I'm a policeman, I can do what I want"

So your argument, in my eyes, is invalid Keith.

The "set at an angle argument" is merely splitting hairs. You could turn the argument around and say that because you are in a lane it is further round, so you should be in the other lane. At which point you should theoretically be in the first lane!

If you look from the centre of the junction it is half way around.


If there were two lanes on the exit, then there could be a different argument.

I keep telling these southern softies how wrong they are ! and it's unbelievable how many people use "the left hand lane" and then kerb scrub the roundabout to go straight on !!!!!!!! the f kin ankers !

What is it with our fixation of how to tackle roundabouts? Been here before many times, we just keep going round in circles

I failed my driving test on the Shrimp roundabout for using the right hand lane to go from Lancaster road/Broadway to Morecambe Road. I always use the left hand lane now!

Keith wrote:The problem is that Morecambe Road is the third exit from the Broadway entrance and is debatable as to whether it is more than half way around/straight on because it is set at an angle. "Straight on" is therefore Torrisholme. I've seen police cars doing it in both ways, inside and outside lanes, so if they don't know, how do the rest of us have a chance?

When did you take your test Splodge?

It might have worn away now, but there used to be an arrow on the inside lane pointing straight on. Not sure if you can still see it. In theory there's no such thing as the "wrong" lane, because it might depend on the traffic. If the left lane is very busy and a lot of that traffic is going to Bare or Torrisholme (especially if they were signalling left), then the right lane would be fine. If you're in a bus or large vehicle, then the left lane to go straight on gives you a straighter line so that's the sensible one. It's only a problem when people in the left lane think the other is "In the wrong" and act accordingly. In a perfect world, if you were in the left lane and going straight on, and sensed someone in the right lane was also going straight on, you'd just let them get on with it and concede the space rather than create a problem for yourself. Sadly, not many people have that approach. Not sure if it's possible, but one thing that might solve it is widening the entrance to Morecambe Road, creating 2 lanes with one of those arrows that filters traffic in.

I was taught in 2005 that 1st and 2nd exits are the outside lane 3rd and over are the inside lane unless the 2nd exit is past half way round in which case you would use the inside lane. Also the angle of the junction makes no difference. You are to judge as best you can from the roundabout information sign on the approach as you wont necessarily know the individual aspects of every roundabout in the country. At least you dont have a kiething thruabout!!! In there infinite wisdom our council has built a 4 junction roundabout, with a lane for going straight across, and 10 individual sets of traffic lights. And all this on a road which really wasn't that busy, at an initial cost of 12.5 million, with another 6 million added cos they round some gold crested kiething newts when they started digging...6 million pounds to move some newts!

And breathe...

morecambe mick wrote:

I wish there were a copy of that graphic when approaching the shrimp roundabout from Morecambe/Broadway end.

Sick to death of being cut up by stupid car drivers who think it's fun to try and push a wagon off the road onto the pavement

They take the right hand lane to go straight ahead, and don't look to their left when driving in a straight line across the roundabout

Also from the highway code website:

186
Signals and position.
When taking the first exit to the left, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
signal left and approach in the left-hand lane
keep to the left on the roundabout and continue signalling left to leave
When taking an exit to the right or going full circle, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
signal right and approach in the right-hand lane
keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to exit the roundabout
signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want
When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout
you should not normally need to signal on approach
stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout
signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want
When there are more than three lanes at the entrance to a roundabout, use the most appropriate lane on approach and through it.

it also says:
187
In all cases watch out for and give plenty of room to
pedestrians who may be crossing the approach and exit roads
traffic crossing in front of you on the roundabout, especially vehicles intending to leave by the next exit
traffic which may be straddling lanes or positioned incorrectly
motorcyclists
cyclists and horse riders who may stay in the left-hand lane and signal right if they intend to continue round the roundabout. Allow them to do so
long vehicles (including those towing trailers). These might have to take a different course or straddle lanes either approaching or on the roundabout because of their length. Watch out for their signals

so there you go... common sense and interpretation rules!

the real point is that this isn't, despite some confusion, an accident black spot, therefore it works, even if only because people take care there. If everyone took the same care everywhere we'd all be much safer on the roads

The Morecambe Rd /Ovangle Road roundabout only works because people disregard the rules and let traffic out coming down Morecambe Rd past the College. Pretty sure that when you come to a roundabout junction you are meant to give way to the traffic already on the roundabout coming from your right. It only works due to people either squeezing their way onto the roundabout or people letting them on.

Quite right Mark and it's nice to see people using a bit of common sense by allowing people from morecambe road onto the roundabout. It's treated more as a T-junction when the traffic is backed up enough to stop cars on the roundabout.

Mark S wrote:The Morecambe Rd /Ovangle Road roundabout only works because people disregard the rules and let traffic out coming down Morecambe Rd past the College. Pretty sure that when you come to a roundabout junction you are meant to give way to the traffic already on the roundabout coming from your right. It only works due to people either squeezing their way onto the roundabout or people letting them on.

Please Mark S, tell me which lane I should be in at the 2-roundabout farce on Torr Rd/Scale Hall Lane/West Drive fiasco thingy??

seasonsinthesun wrote:

Mark S wrote:The Morecambe Rd /Ovangle Road roundabout only works because people disregard the rules and let traffic out coming down Morecambe Rd past the College. Pretty sure that when you come to a roundabout junction you are meant to give way to the traffic already on the roundabout coming from your right. It only works due to people either squeezing their way onto the roundabout or people letting them on.

Please Mark S, tell me which lane I should be in at the 2-roundabout farce on Torr Rd/Scale Hall Lane/West Drive fiasco thingy??

Woah there matey! I am no expert when it comes to these things. I enjoy cutting up wagons.

The way I approach the said roundabouts is to treat them like two seperate roundabouts